Ignition system



L. J. WERNER.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 30. I918.

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1,304,835 A 12mm Mz1y27 I919.

IIIIIIIIIIII II II I IIIIIIIIIIIIII I u A INVENTUR' LEE WERNER Fl TTURNE Y L. J. WERNER. IGNITION SYSTEM. APPLECATION FILED SEPT. so. 1918.

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H T TURNE Y Patented May 27, 1919.

L. J. WERNER.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.30. 1918 I I Patented May 27, 1919.

F W 3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

LED J. NEE/VER- Wang-Z A TTORNEY names sra'rns rarnnr cri ics.

LEO J. WERNER, OF ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 SPLITDORF ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27, 19 19.

Application filed September 30, 1918. Serial No. 256,318.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I; Lno J. VERNER, a citizen of Russia, residing at Arlington, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, U. S. A., have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This-invention relates to an ignition system adapted for use on large, high compression engines which are hard, or not adapted to be started, with a hand crank, but which are started on compression. It is particularly adapted for use in connection with engines used on airplanes that are usually started by priming the cylinders or drawing in charges of fuel by turning the engine over, through the medium of the propeller, at which time the ignition system is out of operation. It is usual to equip such engines with duplicate ignition generators nd a double set of spark plugs for the purpose of getting the maximum power out of the englue and increasing the reliability. After the engine has been primed, as above set forth, ignition is usually obtained through the operation of a hand starting ignition generator which supplies the initial ignition impulse or impulses, while the service igni tion generators and engine are at rest. Several schemes have been used, one of which involves the use of a high tension starting ignition generator which supplies secondary current to the engine spark plugs through the medium of a trailing brush in the distributor of one orboth of the service generators at a period of time somewhat later than the service generator. Another scheme is to provide a low tension starting generator, that is, one having a. low tension winding only, and connect this generator to the primary of the service generators which are preferably of the high tension type. The introduction of current from the low tension starting generator into the primary of either of the service generators causes the secondary winding to produce a spark in the cylinder adapted to receive it. In many ways this latter scheme is preferable to the first, in that the starting generator is simpler to make, on account of one low tension winding, and is less likely to break down or get out of order. My invention relates particularly to a system of the latter kind and is di rooted to certain improvements therein.

After the engine has been started, it is highly advantageous to be able to switch ,off and on either one of the service ignition generators in order to see that the other one is firing the engine properly, after which test has been made the controlling switch is so thrown that both service generators are in commission.

In certain arrangements using the low tension starting generator in the combination as above set forth, trouble has been experienced, due to the fact that at the time the engine is started the starting generator winding is left connected with the primary winding of one (if the service generators and this will function to a considerable extent through'the starting generator winding as the circuit breaker or controller of the latter generator may stop in open position so that the proper test cannot be obtained on either of the service generators.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide means to eliminate this trouble by a comparatively simple mechanism used on the starting generator.

In the drawings, which are attached to and form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the starting generator with the hand operating mechanism in the off or inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is a partial view of the generator of Fig 1 but with the starting mechanism in operative position.

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 1 with a part of the starting mechanism removed.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of that part of the starting mechanism removed from Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the starting generator showing a modified form of part of the starting mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 8, but with the mechanism of Fig. 4 in position.

' Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of my ignition system.

Referring now to the details, wherein like numbers refer to corresponding parts in the various views, 1 illustrates a generator, preferably of the permanent magnet type, having a rotor shaft 2 which, in my preferred form carries rotors 3 and 4 which operate in a well known manner between field poles carrying the generating winding 5. A gear 6 is carried on the shaft 2 and meshing with it is another gear 7 having an operating handle 8. Gear 7 is supported on a. bearing 9 attached of the gear to the end plate 10. Fastenecl to the back 7, as by screws 11, is a member 12 to the rear end. of which is made integral or fastened thereto in any suitable manner, a portion having a series of indentations 13. Within the member 12 and supported on the hub 14 is a spring 15 which bears the end plate 10 thus serving to hold the gear '7 in its outward position on the bearingmtud 9, as shown in Fig. i. Mounted on support studs 16 and 17, attached to the end plate 10, are two arms 18 and 19 carrying members 20 and 2i, preferably of the roller type, which are adapted to engage the indentations 13. The upper ends of the members 18 and 19 are held in their proper operating relation by spring member 22.

As shown in the diagrammatic arrange ment in Fig. 7, the rotors 3 and l are of the two lobc type so that the starting generator is capable of delivering four current impulses per revolution of the shaft- 2. Mounted within the breaker or controller end 23 of the generator l is the usual circuit breaker or controller having a stationary member 24 and movable member 25 and cam 26 which is adapted to operate the movable member 25 four times per revolution to correspond with the current impulses'generated by the generator. The generating winding 5 is connected to the stationary and insulated contact 24 and a condenser 27 is connected across the controller in the usual Way. 28 and 29 illustrate two service generators, preferably of the high tension magneto type, each having pri mary windings P and secondary windings S with circuit breakers or controllers O and condensers K. 30 is a controlling switch having contacts 31 and which are con nected together and to the primary of the generator 28X 33 and are two contacts connected together and to the primary of generator 29. The stationary contact 24 of the starting generator is connected to a inent 35. 36 illustrates a switch lever carrying swih'm blades 37, and 39 which are all electrically connected together. 4:0 is a ground 'contact.

Coming now to the operation of my ignition system, let it be assumed that the service generator 28 chosen :tor the one to start the engine. In operation, the operator on talc ing hold of the handle 8 of the starting gene orator pushes it inward against the springlfi moving the gear 7 toward the plate l0 so that the indentations 13 pass beyond engagement of the members 20 and 21, as shown in Fig. 2, thus removing the friction which Would be produced by the engagement of members 20 and 21 with the indentations 13, Turning the gear 7, which I preferably make with about four times as many teeth as in gear 6, will turn the rotors 3 and i rapidly generating the current in the winning which will. be acted on by the controller me.

and

here

. to send rapid i thron h tie primary P of the generator 28, it being assumed that the switch 30 is thrown to the position shown. As soon as the engine starts the operator ceases to operate the starting generator and as soon as the hand is removed from the handle 8 the spring" if: rcturns the gear 7 to the position shown. in l which brings the indentations 13 back to their normal position so as to be engafcd by the members and 21, which, due, to the tension of the spring on the arms 18 and 19, will act to turn the gear T and the shaft 2 so that the contact ii will be brought into closed position. itbcing understood that the number of indentations are chosen in the right proportion to the cam 26 to produce this result; Now, since the starting generator is always stopped so that the contact ll is closed it will be seen that the winding is short ci'rcuited through the controlling arm 25 and the primary winding oi the serv ice generator 28 will be permzuiently and positively grounded so that the generator 29 will furnish the ignition for the engine hence the operator will have a teston this particular generator. The switch arm 36 can now be thrown to the position A---l3 where in will be seen that the starting gencrann' connected to the sertice generator 29 and the service generator 28 will furnish all of the ignition current. When the switch lever 36 is thrown to the posit-ion C-D both service generators 28 and 29 are furnishing current. 'When it is desired to stop the engine the switch lever 36 is thrown to the position E l Where it is seen that both generators 22 and. 29 are grounded and put out of action in the usual way.

In the modified form of mechanism shown in Fig. 55 the plungers l2 and all; take the place of the mechanism shown in 3 and function in an equivalent manner.

While I have shown a. starting generator of one oarticular type, it will be undersmod that; other typosot generators are capable of being used ainl while i: have shown certain details of .gtarting mechanism, i do not wish to be limited to the exact forms shown and described.

l-larii I claim. is

thus described in invention what 1. An ignition systmn for internal coin including a service generator driven by the engine and having primary and secondary i indings for furnishing sparking current,

a starting generator having a generating winding. and a controller to control said winding, means for connecting said Winding to the primary of the service generator for delivering current thereto and means for automatimilly stopping" the starting generator in such a. position that the controller.

hnstion engines comprising ignition means including service generators driven by the engine. and each having primary and secondi I windings for tarnishing sparking cm r ht. a. starting generator having a generatwinding and a controller to control said. winding, switching means for connecting said winding and controller to the primary of either oisaid service generators for delivering current thereto and means for automatically stopping the starting generator in such a. position that the controller renders inert its generating winding as well as the A generating windings of the service generator to which it connected.

5. An ignition system for internal Combustion engines comprising ignition means in cliuling service generators driven by the engine and having primary and secondarv windings for furnishing sparking current, a starting generator having a generating windinn, means for connecting said winding to the primary of either of the service generators for delivering current thereto, an operating pinion on the starting generator, a starting gear operatively connected to said pinion and carrying means constructed to be autonmt-ically acted on to turn said startinggear and means carried on the frame of said generator tor engaging the said means in-the starting gear to move it, and the driving pinion. automatically to a predetermined position for the purpose described.

6. in ignition system for internal combustion engines comprising ignition means including service generators driven by the engine and having primary and secondary windings for furnishing sparking current, a starting generator having, a generating winding. and acontroller to control said winding, means for con. eating said winding to the primary of either of the service generators for dclivi a current thereto, gear wheels on the starting generator for operating the generator and said controller, one ot'said gears carrying means to be acted on manually and automatic means carried on said generator for acting on said gear wheel after the manual force has been re moved for operating the controller so as to render inert the starting generating winding as well the service generator windings to which it is connected, for the purpose described.

7. An ignition system. for internal c01nbastion engines comprising ignition means including aservice generator driven by the engiiuz. and having primary and secondary windings for :t'urnishin sparking current, a starting generator having a winding, means for connecting said winding to the primary oi? the service generator for delivering current thereto, manual means for operating the rotative pa rts ot the starting oenerator and automatic means for positively positioning said rctative parts in one of certain predetermined positions for the purpose described.

8. An ignition system for internal combustvion engines comprising ignition means including a service gei'lerator driven by the engine and having primary and secomlary windings for furnishing sparking current, a starting generator having a generating winding, means for connecting said winding to the primary ot the service generator tor delivering current thereto, manual means for operating the rotative parts of the starting,- generator. automatic means for positively positioning said rotative parts in one ot certain predetermined positions after the manual force has been removed, said automatio means being disarrangcd by the manual means to render operation of the rotatincparts of the generatm' easier as described.

in witness whereof, l atliX my signature.

LEO J. WERNER.

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